1.33 expected goals. Five actual ones. Somebody forgot to tell Sweden that the numbers were supposed to matter. Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1 at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 15, 2026, in their Group F opener at the World Cup. Yasin Ayari scored twice, either side of strikes from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and … Read more
Three times the woodwork said no to Ecuador. Once was enough for Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 15, 2026, in their Group E opener at the World Cup. Substitute Amad Diallo scored the only goal in the 90th minute, finishing a Wilfried Singo cross … Read more
Two minutes. That is all the time Japan needed to turn a loss into a draw that felt like a win. The Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 15, 2026, in their Group F opener at the World Cup. Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored for the … Read more
The smallest nation ever to play at a World Cup scored a goal that will be remembered forever in Willemstad. The other six goals belonged entirely to Germany. Germany beat Curacao 7-1 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on June 15, 2026, in their Group E opener at the World Cup. Felix Nmecha opened the … Read more
Thirty shots. Two goals conceded. Zero points to show for it. Somewhere in that gap is the entire story of Türkiye’s return to the World Cup. Australia beat Türkiye 2-0 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on June 14, 2026, in their Group D opener at the World Cup. Nestory Irankunda scored in the 27th … Read more
One deflection. Thirty-six years of waiting. That is how thin the gap was between Scotland and history. Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 14, 2026, in their Group C opener at the World Cup. John McGinn’s deflected effort found the net in the 28th minute, and it was enough … Read more
A six-time World Cup winner needed a moment of individual brilliance just to draw level. That tells you most of what you need to know about Morocco’s night. Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 14, 2026, in their Group C opener at the World Cup. Ismael … Read more
Three point two four. That is the expected goals total Switzerland racked up and somehow still did not win with. Qatar drew 1-1 with Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 14, 2026, in their Group B opener at the World Cup. Breel Embolo converted a 17th-minute penalty for Switzerland, and Boualem … Read more
Seven minutes in, and Paraguay had already done the hardest part for them. The United States beat Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 13, 2026, in their opening Group D match at the World Cup. Damian Bobadilla turned a Weston McKennie cross into his own net in the 7th minute, Folarin … Read more
Larin Needed 121 Seconds to Save Canada’s Night One hundred and twenty-one seconds. That is how long Cyle Larin needed on the field before he made the scoreboard match the performance. Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto on June 13, 2026, in their second Group B match at the World Cup. … Read more